Apparatus for treating textile materials



May 20, 1952 A. o. HURXTHAL APPARATUS FOR TREATING TEXTILE MATERIALSFiled Aug. 19, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET l May 20, 1952 A. o. HURXTHAL2,597,490

APPARATUS FOR TREATING TEXTILE MATERIALS Filed Aug. 19, 1948 2SHEETS-SHEET 2' Patented May 20, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEAPPARATUS-I*"(ZIt TREAT-ING- TEXTILET MATERIALS.

-A lpheus 0. HurxthaL- Wyncote; Pa., assignorito Proctor v& Schwartz,I'nc.,= Philadelphia; =Pa.,.:a

corporation of Pennsylvania vApplication.August 19, 1948;,Serial'No.45383 *This' invention relates to apparatus for the" plicablegenerallyto textile fabrics, it is :particularly applicable to* theshrinking and" drying of tubular knittedfabrics which-undergoa greatdealofi stretching in thecourse of manufacture and subsequent treatment,including -i dyeing and bleaching;

*The'problem of garmentshrinkagehasplagued the textile industry for manyyears, :particularly the underwear industry wherein' shrinkage has beenextremely severedueto the character of the material and the relatively;greatstretch imparted to-'-'itinprocessing. The prevention: ofgarmentshrinkagerequires that 'theimateri'al' be shrunktoremove thestretchprior to the manufacture of garments from-the material; Recentdevelopments have shown, that relaxation. ofthe -materialfor a-periodof; time, especially during drying; tends tocausethe :constituent fibresto be restoredto their normal tensionless conditiom and thereby removesthe stretch previously imparted toithe-"fibres: and renders: the: fabricmaterial substantially immune. to. later shrinkage. -As' heretoforepracticed;- however, suchrelaxation-shrinkage-has-involved the use of.costlyapparatus comprising a plurality of conveyors which serve tosupport'the material. Such: an apparatus-may comprise-as manyas'fiveconveyors in superposed relation, by which the fabric isconveyed; in'succession, duringthe shrinking. and-drying treatment. Thecost of such;an apparatus tends to prohibit'its commercial use.

- Loop driers-have long been used in the, textile industry; in-whichdriersthe fabric is suspended in successive loops on a-moving carrierand-air is brought into contact with the loops tomdry' the fabric.plurality of conveyors; they are generally unsatisfactory-in that-thesuspension of the loops subjects the fibres to= tension and impartsfurther stretch thereto,- and furthermore the airtends to disarrange theloops causing some to become extremely shortand others-tobecome-extremely long. Consequently loop driers, when-used, have only:aggravatedthe shrinkageproblem, and-they have not -beenwhollysatisfactoryeven' from-the standpoint.- of drying alone.

"While such-driers avoid the use-ofa "2 The principalobject of "thepresent invention is-to provide acommercially suitable apparatusfor'relaxation shrinkage, and also for drying, of

textile fabrics.

The present invention is based on the novel concept of arranging afabric in successive loops and providing basket supports for theloops-so as to eliminate tension therein-andto completely-relax thefibres,- andsubjecting-the supported loops to the dryinginfiuencerofairorany other gaseous medium. By providing aaconveyorarrangement for thus supporting the fabric in successive loops. it ispossible greatly to simplify and to reduce the cost of shrinking anddrying apparatus.

According to the preferred form of the invention, there is providedan-apparatus comprising a gasket conveyorha'ving successive basket loopsinwhich the fabric is loosely carried, and the apparatus also preferablycomprises air jets arranged to dry' the fabric* whileit completelyrelaxed on saidconveyor. *By virtue of the form of the conveyor,- it isequivalent in length to a plurality of flat conveyors, asregards-treatment of the fabric, and a singleconveyor sufiices for thecomplete shrinking and-drying treatment. Moreover;the-apparatus is ofsimple construction and may be -manufactured: at considerably lower costthan a multiple conveyor apparatus.

' The invention may be clearly understood'from thefollowing'detaileddescription with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein Fig. I is a diagrammatic plan view of an apparatusconstructed according tothe invention;

' Fig.- 2' is a diagrammatic side 'elevational' view of'the' same, witha portion of the casing'broken away and shown in section to" disclosethe interior mechanism;

' Figs 3- is across sectionalview taken along line 3"3= of Fig: 2;

Fig. 4 isarelatively largescalesectional view taken longitudinallythrough a portion: of the basket conveyor and'showing several of thebasket loops thereof and Fig. -5 is 1 2: fragmentary: sectional viewtaken along line 5 -5 of Fig. 4'.

Referring first-to Figs; land 2, the apparatus comprises i an: elongatehousing 10 of suitable dimensions throughwhich the-basket conveyor I Iextends longitudinally. "The housing 10 may comprise a suitableframework (not shown) and a plurality of sheet metal sections numbered l2 to IT. As shown in Fig-. 3; the'metal sections are preferably coveredwith a heat insulating material; Associated with said sections are serveto circulate the air in each section, as hereinafter described.

The conveyor II is preferably of endless form and engages rotatablesprockets 24 and 25 at the opposite ends of the housing l externalthereto. In the form of the apparatus illustrated, the sprockets aredriven by a motor-driven pulley 26 through the medium of a driving belt21.

The fabric material F is supplied to the conveyor H at the left hand endthereof, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, by means of power-driven feed rolls28 and 29. The latter are operated at a speed of rotation such that thefabric is fed to the conveyor at a rate sufficiently greater than thespeed of the conveyor to enable disposition of the fabric loosely in thebasket loops of the conveyor. with the fabric extending substantiallythe full depth of each basket loop, as hereinafter more fully described.This disposition of the fabric is effected by means of a transverse airnozzle 30 which extends the full width of the conveyor, and which isarranged at the feed end of the conveyor so as to blow the fabric intothe successive basket loops of the conveyor. Pressurized air may besupplied to nozzle 30 from any suitable source. At the discharge end ofthe conveyor, the fabric material is fed to an inclined belt conveyor 3!which deposits the material on a scray 32. The conveyor 3| ma be drivenfrom the shaft of pulley 26 by means of a belt 33.

Referring now to Figs. 3 to 5, the basket conveyor ll may compriseroller chains at each side carrying spaced transverse rods 34 whichserve to support the basket loops 35. One of the roller chains is shownin Fig. 4 and comprises links 35 and rollers 31. In Fig. 3, two of theopposite rollers are visible at 38. Angle members 39 and 40 providetrack surfaces along which the rollers run, said members being supportedby the framework (not shown). As may be seen in Fig. 1, the sprockets 24and 25 support theroller chains at the opposite ends of the housing It].

The basket loops of the conveyor, which are preferably about nine inchesdeep, may be formed of suitable wire screen, as shown in Fig. 5. Thescreen member forming each basket loop may have its end portions loopedabout therods 34 for free pivotal support thereby.

As shown in Fig. 3, within each section of housing l0 there is an airhead 4| above the upper conveyor run and an air head 42 below said run.The upper air head 4! has a series of transverse downwardly directednozzles 43, while the lower air head 42 has a series of upwardlydirected transverse nozzles 44. The nozzles extend the full width of theconveyor. The upper and lower nozzles are preferably arranged instaggered relation, as shown in Fig. 4. The two air heads 4| and 42 aresupplied with air from a common air duct 45 through air conduits 46 and41. The air is supplied to said heads under pressure by the fan 48 ofthe associated motor-driven fan unit. Surrounding the conveyor and saidair heads, and extending the full length of the housing 10, is anenclosure formed by wall members 49 and 58 having depending flanges 5|and 52 which form an outlet from said enclosure to the bottom of thecasing l 0. After ejection from the nozzles 43 and 44, the air is drawndownward through a filter 53 and about heating pipes 54 by the suctionof fans 48. As may be seen in Fig. 2, the filter 53 and the heatingpipes 54 extend the full length of the housing It). The pipes 54 maycarry steam or any other suitable heating agent.

In operation of the apparatus, the fabric is loosely deposited in thebasket loops, as shown in Fig. 4, so that it is completely free oftension.

This is accomplished by feeding the fabric at a sufficient rate and bythe blowing thereof into the basket loops by the air from nozzle 30. Asthe fabric is carried through the housing 10 by the basket conveyor, itis subjected to the heated air from nozzles 43 and 44 and is thus dried.

Since the apparatus effectively shrinks the fabric material and reducesits length by an amount comparable to the stretch previously imparted toit, the fabric must be sufficiently loose in the basket conveyor topermit such shortening of its length. Moreover, the fabric shouldpreferably be sufficiently loose so that it may always extend the fulldepth of each basket loop in order that there will not be any tension onany of the fabric loops due to unsupported weight. Generally speaking,the stretch imparted to a fabric by processing and prior to dryingthereof is about fifteen percent of its length at that time. Therefore,the fabric should be supplied to the conveyor at a rate such that thelength of the fabric supported by the conveyor is about fifteen percentin excess of the effective conveyor length supporting the fabric.

While the invention contemplates any suitable depth of the basket loopsof the conveyor, it is thought to be desirable to maintain the loopsfairly short, e. g. about nine inches in depth.

The velocity of the air impinging on the supported fabric should not besuflicient to blow it out of the conveyor loops. As shown in Fig. 3, therelative amounts of air supplied to the upper and lower air heads may beregulated by means of an adjustable vane or deflector 55 in each of theducts 45. These vanes may be mounted on a common shaft 56 extending thelength of the casing and having an operating handle 51 externally of thecasing.

It should be understood that the main and essential feature of thepresent invention is the support of the fabric in successive loopssubstantially free of tension so that the fibres are relaxed and arefree to return to their normal tensionless condition. The promotion ofdrying of the fabric while thus relaxed may be carried out in anysuitable manner by any suitable medium, although the use of upper andlower heated air jets has been found to be most efficacious in effectingrapid drying.

It will be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited tothe specific apparatus illustrated and described, but contemplates suchother specific forms as may be found useful in the accomplishment of thedesired results.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for relaxed drying of textile fabrics, a conveyorcomprising successive basket loops of foraminous material movablethrough a horizontal run, said basket loops being of relatively narrowloop width and of substantially greater loop depth, means for drivingsaid conveyor at a predetermined speed, means for feeding the fabric tothe conveyor at one end of said run at a rate sufficiently greater thanthe speed of said conveyor to enable deposition of the fabric loosely insaid basket loops, air jet means arranged at the feed end of saidconveyor run to effect the aforementioned deposition of the fabric,whereby the fabric is carried by the conveyor in a series of loopsdevoid of tension, and means for impinging air on the looped fabric asit is carried through said horizontal run.

2. In an apparatus for relaxed drying of textile fabrics;a-conveyor-comprising-an-endless. carrier and successive basket loops offora-minous -material carriedbysaid carrier; said conveyor be'-ing'movable through a-h'orizontal run, said basket loops being ofrelatively narrow loop width and of substantiallygreater-loop depth,means for driving said: conveyor at: a: predetermined; speed, means forfeeding the fabric tozthez-conveyor-at one end of -said-run at-a-ratesufficiently greater than the. speed of said conveyor to enabledeposition offthe fabric loosely in-said basket loops; air jetimeans'arrangedatthe'feed end of saidiconveyor 'run" to effectthe"aforementioned: deposition of the fabricrwh'ereby the'fabric is carriedby the conveyor"ina' series of loops devoid of tension, and means forimpinging air on the looped fabric as it is carried through saidhorizontal run.

3. In an apparatus for drying and shrinking moist fabric, an elongatehousing, an endless conveyor extending longitudinally through saidhousing so as to provide a horizontal run of the conveyor through thehousing to carry fabric therethrough, said conveyor comprising anendless carrier and successive basket loops of foraminous materialcarried by said carrier, said basket loops being of relatively narrowloop width and of substantially greater loop depth, means for drivingsaid conveyor at a predetermined speed, means for feeding the moistfabric to the conveyor at the intake end of said housing at a ratesufficiently greater than the speed of said conveyor to enabledeposition of the fabric loosely in said basket loops, an air nozzleextending transversely of said conveyor at the feed end thereof andarranged to effect the aforementioned deposition of the fabric, wherebythe fabric is carried through said housing in a series of loops devoidof tension, and means for impinging heated air on the looped fabric asit is carried through said housing.

4. In an apparatus for drying and shrinking moist fabric, an elongatehousing, an endless conveyor extending longitudinally through saidhousing so as to provide a horizontal run of the conveyor through thehousing to carry fabric therethrough, said conveyor comprising anendless carrier and successive basket loops of foraminous materialcarried by said carrier, said basket loops being of relatively narrowloop width and of substantially greater loop depth, means for drivingsaid conveyor at a predetemined speed, means for feeding the moistfabric to the conveyor at the intake end of said housing at a ratesufiiciently greater than the speed of said conveyor to enabledeposition of the fabric loosely in said basket loops, an air nozzleextending transversely of said conveyor at the feed end thereof andarranged to effect the aforementioned deposition of the fabric, wherebythe fabric is carried through said housing in a series of loops devoidof tension, longitudinally spaced air nozzles in said housing above andbelow said horizontal run of the conveyor for impinging air on thelooped fabric as it is carried through the housing, said last-mentionedair nozzles extending substantially the full width of said conveyor, andmeans for supplying heated air to said last-mentioned nozzles.

5. In an apparatus for drying and shrinking textile fabric, a conveyorincluding successive basket loops of foraminous material movable througha horizontal run, said basket loops be ing of relatively narrow loopwidth and of substantially greater loop depth, means for driving saidconveyor ata: predetermined speed,- means fabric, so thatthe fabric mayshrink and: still besupported by the basket loops, -and means forpromotingdrying-of the fabricas? it-is= carried" through 1 saidhorizontal-run.

6. -I-n an-apparatus for'drying and shrinking textile fabric, *aconveyor including successive basket loops of 'foraminous materialmovable through a -horizontal run; said= basket loops being ofrelatively narrow loop width and of substantially greater loop depth,means for driving said conveyor at a predetermined speed, means forfeeding the fabric to the conveyor at one end of said run at a ratesufliciently greater than the speed of said conveyor that the fabric isloosely deposited in the basket loops with excess of the fabric at leastapproximately equal to the expected lengthwise shrinkage of the fabric,so that the fabric may shrink and still be supported by the basketloops, and means for impinging air on the top and bottom of the fabricto dry it as it is carried through said horizontal run.

7. In an apparatus for drying and shrinking textile fabric, an elongatehousing, an endless conveyor extending" longitudinally through saidhousing so as to provide a horizontal run of the conveyor through thehousing to carry fabric therethrough, said conveyor comprising anendless carrier and successive basket loops of foraminous materialcarried by said carrier, said basket loops beingof relatively narrowloop width and of substantially greater loop depth, means for drivingsaid conveyor at a predetermined speed, means for feeding the fabric tothe conveyor at one end of said run at a rate sufficiently greater thanthe speed of said conveyor that the fabric is loosely deposited in thebasket loops with excess of the fabric at least approximately equal tothe expected lengthwise shrinkage of the fabric, so that the fabric 1may shrink and still be supported by the basket loops, and means forimpinging air on the top and bottom of the fabric to dry it as it iscarried through said horizontal run.

8. In an apparatus for drying and shrinking textile fabric, an elongatehousing, an endless conveyor extending longitudinally through saidhousing so as to provide a horizontal run of the conveyor through thehousing to carry fabric therethrough, said conveyor comprising anendless carrier and successive basket loops of foraminous materialcarried by said carrier, said basket loops being of relatively narrowloop width and of substantially greater loop depth, means for drivingsaid conveyor at a predetermined speed, means for feeding the fabric tothe conveyor at one end of said run at a rate sufficiently greater thanthe speed of said conveyor that the fabric is loosely deposited in thebasket loops with excess of the fabric at least approximately equal tothe expected lengthwise shrinkage of the fabric, so that the fabric mayshrink and still be supported by the basket loops, longitudinally spacedair nozzles in said housing above and below said horizontal run of theconveyor for impinging air on the fabric as it is carried through thehousing, said air nozzles extending substantially the full width of saidconveyor, and means for supplying heated air to said nozzles.

9. In an apparatus for drying and shrinking textile fabric, a conveyorincluding successive basket loops of foraminous material movable througha horizontal run, said basket loops being of relatively narrow loopwidth and of substantially greater loop depth, means for driving saidconveyor at a predetermined speed, means for feeding the fabric to theconveyor at one end of said run at a rate sufficiently greater than thespeed of said conveyor that the fabric is deposited in the basket loopswith sufficient looseness of the fabric to permit shrinkage thereofwithout subjecting the fabric to undesirable 15 ,380

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,037,254 Hopkins Sept. 3, 19121,287,172 Andrews Dec. 10, 1918 1,886,030 Lane Nov. 1, 1932 GautreauFeb. 22, 1949

